Desk Report:
Bangladesh has called for a strong global initiative to eradicate slavery and oppression. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman made the call at the memorial meeting organized at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) on ‘Remembrance of the Victims of International Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade’. He paid deep respect to the millions of victims of slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade and praised the indomitable spirit of the brave people who fought for freedom and justice.
Dr. Rahman stressed that the trans-Atlantic slave trade has left a permanent mark on humanity. Reiterating Bangladesh’s steadfast stand against slavery, racism, genocide and all forms of oppression, he said that the country’s constitution rejects imperialism, colonialism, racism and discrimination and expresses strong solidarity with the exploited people.
Noting that the 1926 Slavery Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted nearly 80 years ago recognized slavery as a grave human rights violation, the Foreign Minister said that although slavery has been formally abolished, its impact still exists in the social, economic and political structures.
He emphasized the need to increase investment in education and dialogue on the prevention of human trafficking, digital forensics coordination, and the human and civilizational harm of slavery and the slave trade. He also called on the international community to come together to build a world where slavery, discrimination and injustice have no place and where human dignity and justice are established.
